ADOTH: the exiled system.

Chapter 5: [Fight or run.]

As the footstep proceeded to the corner where he was, he took action, forcing the person to the ground before looking to see who it was.

“Gibson it’s me.”

“Trisha!” Stan was not expecting her but all the same he let go and helped her back on her feet as he was short of words to say next.

“Where did you learn to do that?” Trisha asked him because he was not that skilled when he was in the school.

“Why are you stalking me? You’ve delivered your message and I really appreciate it.” Stan was indirectly asking her to go away. He didn’t understand why she was being nice all of a sudden so he couldn’t trust her action of following him.

Trisha understood the true implication of his words, and had to answer based on what he truly meant. “I can’t go back to the school. They’ve tagged me a traitor for revealing their plan to you now I am wanted too.”

“Well that is your cross to bear. It has nothing to do with me. Besides, you are the one who is augmented.” Stan said as he picked his bag ready to leave that place because he thought Trisha was leading the others to him. He did not know what attribute had been augmented by her chip.

“That is the reason why you have to stick with me. Admit you need my help and stop pretending.” Trisha said while he took the steps away from her.

“I don’t need your help. I know what you are up to.” Stan said as he walked away from her.

But Trisha was not going to give up on him at this moment when her life was in danger due to her good deeds. She goes after him, dragging him by the hand so that he looks at her then she said. “I need your help Stan Gibson. I can’t fight them alone.”

“You have to look for someone else to help you.”

“Consider this a favor returned and then we will part ways forever.” Trisha said as she looked into his eyes. She still did not know what was attracting her to him and why she believes he can help her but she was always following her heart and this time was not going to be different.

Stan was struck by her words about returning the favor that he stopped to hear her out and also know what exactly she wanted from him and why she believes he can help her. He did not utter any audible words but his expression did the communication.

“I saw how you were able to absorb pain and get back on your feet after receiving beatings from those men and just some minutes ago you dealt mercilessly with one of them. Why didn’t you tell us that you had a chip too like the rest of us? You would have been accepted in the school but instead you chose to act as if you are neutral. Your ability is rare and if you could prove to them that you are not neutral, I am sure they will stop hunting you. In short, they will welcome you back with great honor.”

Stan was surprised at how she was able to know about the attack he received from those men, he could remember very well that no one was on that street at the time when they attacked him. And it was after that incident that Adoth chose him. He wants to tell Trisha the truth but since he does not trust her, he prefers to say. “How long have you been stalking me? They sent you right? Tell me the truth.” He was very angry as he asked her these questions in a threatening manner which would force words out of her.

“Please don’t hurt me, I mean no harm.” Trisha was frightened, her body was shaking with fear that Stan would descend on her. She understood how he felt and the reason why he should think that way was justifiable by anyone, so she did not know how to prove to him that she was not sent by the school.

“I will only hurt if you don’t tell me the truth. So start talking.” Stan was still wearing the fearsome face as that was the only way to make her confess seeing that it was already working.

“I swear by my life, they didn’t send me. I ran ahead of them after they were done selecting those who will come after you then I found the footage of those men beating you and how you later got up as though it didn’t happen. That was how I was able to track you to the building where I warned you about their coming. I even destroyed the videos so it would be difficult for them to track you.” Trisha reveals the whole truth of how she is able to keep up with him. She was still shaking as she spoke out.

When she was done talking, Stan was still having doubts because her story could be a made up one just to deceive him, so he turned away from her as he whispered to himself. “Adoth, what do you think?”

[She is telling the truth. I also think you have more use for her than she does for you.]

He turned back to her after getting the major thing he wanted to hear from the system, the second part of Adoth’s sentence was not his concern.

“You said if I am able to prove to them that I am not neutral, they will stop haunting me?”

“I guess.” Trisha was more than before. She had to make it known to him it was only a probability which she wasn’t sure of so that he would not see her as a liar when things didn't turn out the way she had thought.

“Who is leading the team and how are they tracking me if you truly destroyed the footage?” Stan wanted to get all the necessary information so that he would know the best decision and action to take.

“Master Sullivan Nathan is leading the team. Lisa Perry is the one spotting out your trails for them and Atkinson Marvin is part of the team.” Trisha answered his question.

The names she mentioned were nothing to surprise Stan with. Sullivan was his most hated teacher and that was the reason why he never went close to those learning how to fight. Atkinson was someone who always wanted to get rid of him from the school. Lisa was the only person who he never suspected to come with them because she was quite too gentle to want to hunt anyone, especially someone helpless and harmless like himself.

“Who else is on the team?”

“Jerald Burns, Ling Tingzhe, Oscar Johnston, Rudo Walid and Callum Jones.”

The names mentioned proved that the school had sent their best after him. The weakest link based on his thinking was Lisa but being the only female, she would be protected heavily and it would be very difficult for him to penetrate her. He guessed this was the time he needed Trisha’s help.

“You are close to all these people, who is the weakest link? Who has the softest heart?”

“Is there any need for that?” Trisha asked before all of them are strong willed that was why they were chosen.

“Yes, there is. Just answer the question.”

Trisha shrugged as she did not still get why he was asking about that but she believed he had a plan so he said. “That should be Rudo and Ling.”

[Fight or run?]

Those words meant that danger was close and Adoth was giving options to choose from as either option would boast his attributes in a significant way.

“How many minutes do I have?” Stan asked Adoth so he would know if the time was enough to make a plan and choose fighting over running.